piercedqt78

Something else to consider, a 14 regular vs a 14 tall or 14 petite all fit differently not only in length, but also in the waist/hips/butt. I am 5'5 and need the regulars, but have found the talls fit better, so I just take them up to fit length wise. I have found that the talls seem a bit more forgiving in the hips, and stomach. Also remember that same brand, doesn't mean same style. I know that old navy for example has boyfriend cut, flirt, tomboy, regular, low waist, etc. I range from a 6-10 in old navy depending on the cut.

Our tradition is the tree goes up the day after Thanksgiving, and comes down New Years Day each year.

I THINK I LOVE YOU I'm crazy for my dogs. They are my fur children. I do have a "skin child" too. She gave herself that title, and says the pups are her siblings. We work very closely with the rescue that Kammi came from. My daughter, she is 12 1/2 volunteers on adoptions event days, walking pups, and cleaning up after the littles that aren't house trained yet. She is just as much of an animal nut as I am. She also has a rescued red footed tortoise, and we take in unwanted sugar gliders. it's like a small zoo in my house. This is my daughter with Leo the Cavalier King Charles, he's the newest member of the family. This is Me in the purple (pre-op) holding the English Toy Spaniel Mix, my daughter Abigale in the middle, and my husband holding Kammi, the mixed breed that was brought back from death's doorstep.

I also had surgery with Dr. Uchal, and he is a terrific surgeon. I LOVE the staff at his office, they make sure you are set, and understand everything along the way. My surgery was an emergency situation, I got the ok from insurance at 4pm on tuesday and had surgery at 6am on wed. When I lived in Chicago and was banded, we had a group that met monthly, it was informal, usually at Panera, or Sweet Tomatoes type places, and it was more the chance to know people that had the same type of surgery, and also had to follow a similar diet. It was more a group of people developing a friendship, and less about the support group setting. We discussed surgery, and progress but it was also a chance to discuss our lives, work, kids etc. I have issues getting to the support group at the hospital, since I have a middle school aged child, and between getting dinner done, help with homework, and then getting to the meeting from the westside, and back I don't have time to get everything done. I had surgery in May, and am past my goal at this point. Last time I saw Dr, Uchal, I was still 140, and he was thrilled. When I said I wanted to lose another 5 pounds, he almost fell off his chair. I told him I didn't do this surgery to squeek my way into a healthy BMI, I wanted to be in the middle or lower end of healthy. That way if I over indulged on vacation, or over the holidays, I still would be ok. He was glad I am so motivated, and said most people only want to get to the "healthy" range and then they are happy to stop. I've always been one of those people that is not happy with being average. I'm a perfectionist, and an overachiever so he was surprised that I was so determined to get to a size/weight that I would be happy with. I wanted to be a size 10, and now I'm approaching an 8 and couldn't be happier.

If you don't mind me asking who did your surgery? I was a band to sleeve conversion or revision and have also had amazing results. I had a little more pain than you, but I think that was mostly from them having to dig out a port that had been attached to a muscle for almost 8 years. As I posted before I am in jacksonville (Fleming Island actually) and would love to get a monthly support group together.

I'm in a size 8 in most brands, but I have 2 pair of size 4's that fit in one brand. I joke that I only buy that brand because I can fit into a 4.

chicken salad with crackers? lunch meat and cheese roll ups? Fruit cups? Boston market frozen bowls? (they have grilled chicken or turkey with veggies and mashed potatoes. by the time I get to the potatoes I'm usually full) Grilled chicken strips, I buy family packs of chicken, cook for my family and then use leftover pan seared seasoned chicken for lunch the next day, with leftover veggies. Salad with grilled meat, lunch meat or chicken. Make homemade meatballs and reheat them at work. Soup, beef and veggie, or chicken soup. It's easy to pack lunches if you make a little extra for dinner and then pack leftovers for lunch.

Another great trick, I made sugar free Jello and before it would set I would drink it warm. It made me feel full, and was still sugar free. It's an old trick my mom used to use when we were sick, and dehydrated to get us kids to drink more liquids.

I wish we had Aldi's and Trader Joe's here in Jax. Sadly we have neither. But I stock up at Aldi when we go to Orlando for a day at Universal, or Disney. And I'm planning a Trader Joe's trip next week before Christmas.

I did atkins to lose the 20 pounds I had to lose before surgery. It helped shrink my liver, and also got those pounds off to get me qualified.

I am dealing with some MAJOR medical issues right now, and I had to see a rheumatologist for the first time yesterday. He was reviewing my medical history and saw that I have had WLS, he questioned why I did it and I said I was 244 pounds, at 5'5 and morbidly obese, he looked me in the eye and said, that is the average sized American why do something so drastic? I was floored. I have never had a doctor ask me why I didn't want to be morbidly obese anymore. I explained to him that I wanted to be healthy, and extend my life. I said the average American also smokes, and drinks alcohol on a regular basis, but I don't do either of those things either. He dropped it, but still I was stunned that he said at 244 pounds I was average for an American, and he was surprised I had surgery. I'm glad I did it, and I think it will help me deal with the problems I'm facing now, but it was still shocking to hear. I am 5 pounds under my goal, and I have had several people tell me that I need to stop losing weight, or ask me if I knew how to stop losing now that I'm at my goal. My mother lectures me all the time about getting too thin, or not eating enough. I am in a size 8, and I don't think I'm too thin at all, I'm very comfortable at the size I am right now. I would love to have the access skin removed, and that will probably make me a size 4, but I'm not doing it for the size, I want to do it to help with the constant rash, and sores that I'm dealing with in the folds of my skin. I am however affraid that when they take off all the extra skin I WILL be underweight. I'm 5'5 and 130 pounds now, is that going to put me in the underweight catagory? That is a question I NEVER thought I would have to ask.

When I first had my lap band surgery there was a doctor that really pushed for Gastric Bypass. He had a commercial that said one of the major issues with the band is that you can always eat Cookies and ice cream. He had an entire commercial just bashing the band. We did some digging and found that he didn't do the band, and for whatever reason he was unable to preform the lap band surgery, due to the fact that the only band manufacturer was not willing to sell to him. (no idea why) My point is, that sometimes people that are so passionate about something usually have a reason for their behavior, weather it's based on money, or the chance to fame. who knows, and unless she gives you more info on the blog, or is willing to explain why she is so anti-WLS. Like others have said maybe they work for a fitness place, or they sell equipment, or some kind of diet plan. Why know?

I'm in Jacksonville.

This is my first holiday season with the sleeve but I have gone through 8 holiday seasons with the lap band. Before my lap band I would have a plate of dinner foods, and then a plate of dessert foods, plus whatever I picked at on the appetizer table along the way. And whatever my daughter would take and decide she either didn't like, or was too full to eat would end up on my plate. A holiday party could easily be 3000 calories in just food, not counting any mixed drinks I may have had. Now I will have a bite or 2 from the snack table (usually cheese, or meat and cheese roll-up type things. And then a bite or 2 of the things that look good and seem like the best options to me (again meat, cheese, veggies) and then if I have room I will have a single cookie, or a 1/4 slice of pie and I if I drink at all it's a vodka cranberry 80% cranberry 10% vodka and 10% Water. (no one wants to have to carry me home lol) so in all I might take in 600-800 calories. And I don't think it's a problem to go over my calories once in a while. I have said it many many times, I didn't get sleeved to give up everything that tastes good, or to give up my holiday traditions. I will gladly modify what I eat, but I will not be miserable and end up resenting my choice, or those around me for being able to have a good time, and eat what they want. I don't use the holidays or "special occasions" to "cheat" or over indulge. I eat what I want, in moderation, and I have not only hit my goal, but I am actually under my goal by 5 pounds, and I'm still losing. I don't do fitday, or mfp, I decided to relearn how to eat, and that is what I did. I make good choices, eat only when I am hungry, and drinking plenty of fluids, and my primary doctor, surgeon and most importantly I am happy with my progress. I'm not saying eat whatever you want, and just throw good judgement out the window, I am saying look over your options, and make a healthy choice, eat only until you are satisfied, and then stop. This works just as well at holiday parties, as it does at the family dinner table. If I know it's only finger food and dessert I will eat before going, but I eat a few hours before, so I can still partake in the treats, but that's not my primary source of nutrients for the day. I also made my recipes just like I have done for years, I didn't try to reduce the calories, fat or increase the Protein, and I had a small bite of the ones that are favorites of mine, and was happy that I was able to have a normal, albeit small Thanksgiving meal. I will do the same for Christmas, and New Years.

We have all done the slow sipping, I will say I was NOT able to drink anything super cold the first 3-5 days. It caused my stomach to cramp and hurt. I did better on room temp Water, or warm drinks, like warm decaf tea (what I was served in the hospital) and warm chicken broth. It seems to sooth the soreness away, and also I felt like I was getting real food in me.

We are HUGE Nightmare Before Christmas fans in my house. We have an entire room decorated with NBC stuff. My husband has been collecting it for years, it's expensive but holds it's value fairly well, and he loves adding to his collection. If you really look at the pics of my tree there are several Nightmare ornaments, mostly from the parks, but some are homemade, and some were ordered from China/Japan on Ebay. This year I wanted to make him something special, but not another ornament. I have 3 rubbermaid containers of tree decorations, before we moved to Florida we lived in a fairly large house in Chicago, and I put up 4 trees, 1 formal, one with homemade ornaments, 1 with all Disney stuff and 1 in my daughters room (a tabletop tree). Now we are in an apartment (just starting to look for a house, ugh) and I only have room for 1 tree so it's a hodgepodge of my favorites. So this year my daughter and I went digging online to see what we could find to make for him, and we decided to make him the wreath that comes to life. I saw them selling for as little as $20 and as much as $150 online, so I figured I could make one fairly inexpensively, have fun making it, and he would be thrilled. Well I was right, it came out better than I expected, we had a blast making it, and it only cost me about $12 in materials. I had the supplies to add the arms, but he liked it without the arms, and said the arms made it too big, took away from the face. So here it is:

that's a beautiful tree, and I LOVE the reindeer made out of the handprint. That's an excellent idea. I will be making those with my 3 year old great nieces to attach to their parents presents this year. And that is a seriously cute baby in the picture behind the tree.

Any more trees/decorations to share? I just love the holidays.

I didn't read all the replies, but call the drug manufacturer. They ALL have programs that help uninsured people get meds. And look online for a place in your area that works on a sliding scale. They base it on income, and usually have samples of meds to get you through. There is ALWAYS a way to make these things work. I know it sucks, and it will be hard, but it's doable and you are worth the work to maintain your mental state. (((hugs))) I am willing to help anyway I can if you want to PM me, and I can get you more info on the programs for your meds.

I wish we could, but we have such different taste in foods that it's just not possible. I am able to share when I eat out with my mom and dad, or with my daughter. She is glad she has moved to the adult menu, and she is happy to share whatever with me, as long as I don't make her eat seafood, brussel sprouts, or green Beans. LOL If they are ordering something that's not a good choice for me, or something I don't want I will order ala carte, if it's a nice place, like steak houses, etc, I will do the add an order or shrimp, or lobster and that's my meal. I'm never affraid to ask about what is available but not listed on the menu, you will be amazed at how many things are not listed, but are in the system to order.

I'm still amazed when clothing that is hanging in my own closet fits me, and my family thinks it's funny that I do a happy dance when I can put on pants without laying on the bed, and doing the booty scoot to get into my jeans. I hold up my new sizes and still say "never gonna happen" and they do fit, just like the last time I wore them. LOL It's a great problem to have though.

Fantastic idea!

I'm not even going to try to kid you, the pre-op diet sucks, but most people see some major weight loss. Each and every step you take right now is leading you to a better, healthier and happier you. I know that the 114 pounds I have lost all started with my little pre-op diet so many years ago. And it's another milestone that you are passing, I think the youtube videos are a great idea! I did a written journal, with some pics at major goals, but nothing on video.

I have popcorn, without issue. I didn't have this surgery to deny myself everything that tastes good, or that makes me happy. When we go to the movies, I ask for a child size cup, scoop some popcorn into that cup and that's what I eat. My family still gets a medium, and the two of them split what is left over. I don't add a ton of salt, but I do add a small amount of "butter". At home I sprinkle a little bit of parm, or tajin on it. http://www.tajin.com/en-us/ The best way to describe tajin is lime, chili, sugar and a bit of salt. I also use it on mango, pineapple, and papaya. It helps give popcorn flavor without adding a ton of oil. And if it isn't sticking to the popcorn a drizzle of lime juice and then the seasoning is amazing.

Love the dog, I bet he is having Santa puppy dreams. We have 3 dogs, all from rescues, and 2 of them were added to our family this year, so this is their first Christmas with us. They are both doing great with the tree. The one is a Cavalier King Charles, and he is not sure of the blinking lights when we first turn them on, but he seems fine after a few minutes. My female, was a stray, in really bad shape when the rescue took her in, is just glad to have a home, and people that love her. She "helped" put the tree up, she had to smell every ornament, and then she would sit while we put it on the tree, smell the next and sit, it was really funny. I was worried that she would be in the tree when I wasn't watching but it went up Friday and nothing has been touched so far. And they didn't have a chance to sleep under our tree, I wrapped the gifts I bought on Black Friday and put them under the tree already, so there is no room for pups.